Crazy Band Mom Chaperoning in February

[Ladyfish77]

When my boys went the WDW with band they didn't schedule any FP for them. I had them get an MDE account then showed them how to schedule FP. They were broken into small groups to tour and my boys made sure their group all had MDE and they scheduled FP in the park. Not as good as advance, but at least they got some. This was several years ago. Maybe other groups have better planning for FP.

 

[TinkerPan]

I've never "had the pleasure" of being a chaperone for a large group of band members, but my sister-in-law did. She is still traumatized. She said one of the problems they ran into everyday as they got to the park was to find some of their students had forgotten their physical ticket. My advise is to pre-plan for this contingency. Guest services can help if the ticket is linked or you have a picture of the back of the ticket showing the numbers. If not you have a crisis.

 

[subtchr]

...She said one of the problems they ran into everyday as they got to the park was to find some of their students had forgotten their physical ticket...

We know this happens, so as the tour company representative, I have a list of every ticket number. We tell the kids to take a pic of the back, but wouldn't you know it, the kids who are more likely to lose or forget their ticket are the same kids who tend to not follow directions to take a pic of the back! So they let me know, and I go with them to any ticket window or guest relations to quickly get it replaced. Hopefully any group who uses a tour company has access to the same info!

 

[suemom2kay]

Teens don’t generally like their amusement parks planned. It’s not at all the same as a family vacation. 90% of their fun is not being in school and being in an amusement park together. Disney or not.

 

[Claudia1]

If you know what park you will be going to, suggest they pick one, favorite attraction and be sure to do it. Everything else can be icing on the cake. Looking at park maps in advance are a great help to some. Others could care less.

 

[TinkerPan]

We know this happens, so as the tour company representative, I have a list of every ticket number. We tell the kids to take a pic of the back, but wouldn't you know it, the kids who are more likely to lose or forget their ticket are the same kids who tend to not follow directions to take a pic of the back! So they let me know, and I go with them to any ticket window or guest relations to quickly get it replaced. Hopefully any group who uses a tour company has access to the same info!

Good to know.

 

[mdsouth]

Has anyone done recent band trips?

I am happy I found this thread. Even though it is old it still has good tips and I love how there are now several current posts too! Let's keep this thread alive! My daughter's high school band will be at WDW sometime during the 2019-2020 school year, most likely during Christmas break or around Presidents' Day. I am not sure how many rides they will get to do, especially if Star Wars land is newly opened when they are there.

My son's band went to WDW and marched in MK in Feb. 2014. So, I have some idea what it will be like. sdgrady, is your school planning a band trip soon?

 

[mdsouth]

I've never "had the pleasure" of being a chaperone for a large group of band members, but my sister-in-law did. She is still traumatized. She said one of the problems they ran into everyday as they got to the park was to find some of their students had forgotten their physical ticket. My advise is to pre-plan for this contingency. Guest services can help if the ticket is linked or you have a picture of the back of the ticket showing the numbers. If not you have a crisis.

Funny but true about chaperoning teenagers! I am a middle school teacher, eighth grade, and it traumatizes me at times. It is why I did not help chaperone by son's band trips and I do not plan to help chaperone by daughter's. I do plan to tag along or go down ahead of the band and have a WDW trip while they are there. I will go to the same parks they will be in on the same day and try to meet up with my DD for a little bit of time if possible. But I know for my own sanity it would be too much for me to chaperone the trip.

Teens don’t generally like their amusement parks planned. It’s not at all the same as a family vacation. 90% of their fun is not being in school and being in an amusement park together. Disney or not.

This is a valid statement. If the kids go around in small-groups, I can see where some will try to plan out ahead of time what they will do, but the majority will just go with the flow. So, they definitely will spend more time in lines than if they are on a family trip that is planned out through a travel agent or just one of us DISers! As others have said, for most they will spend the time taking selfies, and just hanging out with each other in lines.

 

[mdsouth]

We know this happens, so as the tour company representative, I have a list of every ticket number. We tell the kids to take a pic of the back, but wouldn't you know it, the kids who are more likely to lose or forget their ticket are the same kids who tend to not follow directions to take a pic of the back! So they let me know, and I go with them to any ticket window or guest relations to quickly get it replaced. Hopefully any group who uses a tour company has access to the same info!

Great idea about taking photo of the back of the tickets and having a list of the ticket numbers. You can definitely tell you have worked with teens before and know what they are like by your comment about how the kids who lose or forget their tickets are usually the same ones who do not follow directions or your advice on taking a photo of the ticket.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Our band went twice within the time span our kids were involved. We were going to help our kids and the friends they were going to hang out with do their fastpasses, but in the end they just did it themselves. The last trip, they didn't even have access to their magic bands and stuff until the last minute. Mostly they just goofed around. The kids were just happy to be in WDW with their band friends.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Also remember they are going to be booked rather solid with various other activities. Perform at Disney Springs, march in a parade (assuming there is a marching band), work backstage, etc.

 

[laura428]

I'm going to be following this thread! Our marching band is headed to the World the week of Thanksgiving this year, and I know it's going to be nuts. We've got a meeting set up for any chaperones and/or family members who want to attend to provide basic info and a crash course on FP+, and will be trying to organize FP+ by group when we get tickets next month. Wish us luck!

 

[Boopuff]

My daughter went with her high school band on a WDW trip..I opted not to chaperone (great decision!) we met the kids once they took the bus toOrlando (we flew in) we barely got to see the kids. They were scheduled within an inch of their lives. We did get to see the kids a couple of times and one nice long afternoon. They were on a strict schedule and had to check in several times a day. MY daughter had a lot of fun (so did we on our much more relaxed pace) Enjoy! the best part is seeing them march down mainstreet.

 

[mdsouth]

I'm going to be following this thread! Our marching band is headed to the World the week of Thanksgiving this year, and I know it's going to be nuts. We've got a meeting set up for any chaperones and/or family members who want to attend to provide basic info and a crash course on FP+, and will be trying to organize FP+ by group when we get tickets next month. Wish us luck!

Pixie Dust in the hopes you will be able to get a few good FPs. Please report back how it goes. I know I will be in a similar situation as you in regards to planning FPs when I do go back and now I will also have to deal with the new ticket pricing too and we will be going right when Star Wars Land opens or right after! UGG! THE CROWDS and trying to get FPs for anything is going to be CRAZY!!!!!

My daughter went with her high school band on a WDW trip..I opted not to chaperone (great decision!) we met the kids once they took the bus toOrlando (we flew in) we barely got to see the kids. They were scheduled within an inch of their lives. We did get to see the kids a couple of times and one nice long afternoon. They were on a strict schedule and had to check in several times a day. MY daughter had a lot of fun (so did we on our much more relaxed pace) Enjoy! the best part is seeing them march down mainstreet.

I agree! This sounds like my experience when I my son went on his band trip. I am glad I was able to see him march down Main Street U.S.A.. It was a different type of trip for us, since I made my plans on what days to go to which parks to match up with the band. It was a bit hard to plan because we did not get a lot of specific information about the actual schedule of days to close to when we arrived. I had in fact made a bunch of plans and got some ADRs that I ended up switching or cancelling due to a late switch in the schedule. But I was just happy to be there enjoying WDW and getting to see my son. So, right now, the band director has indicated that my daughter's band trip next year will be back to WDW. I just have NO idea when. It will most likely be either during Christmas break or around President's Day like it was last time. Two very busy times at Disney - but again I am just again happy to have a good reason to go back!

 

[Riss]

I've been in the band going to Disney for 2 years and have gone when my siblings were in the band a couple of other times, 1 time I missed because I was in college and had finals. Our high school band goes every other year regardless, it's like a clockwork tradition.

For my very first trip we went in April, before Easter, but after that trip we have always gone in the November/December time, probably for about 4-5 days in the parks. Once in a while they'll add a day for Universal, but I don't think they've really done it that often. The students in the band typically miss around 3 days of school and depending what time we get back from the trip, we might be able to come in school late the following day.

From my experience, I can say that we definitely didn't plan anything and our enjoyment was totally being out of school and being with our friends. Our chaperones were really only there in case anyone needed anything. In the morning they took our room keys, you had to give it to them by like 7-8am, which was a card when I went but a magic band when my siblings later went. To enter the park, they had paper tickets, which they suggested taking a picture of the back in case you ended up losing it. The only way to do EMH would be to meet the chaperone at the front of the park to get your band to show proof that you were staying at a Disney owned resort and then give it back to them. The check-in time at night was probably around midnight, when you'd get your room key (card or magic band) back.

My school didn't have a very rigid schedule about where everyone needed to be when. They had suggested parks, but it wasn't like we had to check in numerous times a day. The only time you ever really saw anyone, on the day that wasn't the parade, was when you gave them your magic band in the morning or got it at night. Other than that, you might see them randomly in a park or on a bus, but there were no specific chaperones per person/group. The only day we followed a schedule was the Magic Kingdom parade day.

But we mostly just did trips with no schedule besides the parade day. Even my family, who has gone along with every trip, hasn't ever followed a schedule besides that one day. We also frequently split up and did our own things, too. Like we would hang out with our friends and meet our parents or family for dinner sometimes or to go shopping. My parents did give us a room key to their room, though. They always made sure to stay at the same resort, the band always stayed in All Star Music, just so we would be able to go back to their room or we could go to them if needed.

 

[eleda72]

Hello!
Very happy that I found this thread... as I am going to WDW with my Children/Youth Choir Late June/July 2019
Well.. I am the director, Conductor AND I am also their "TOUR GUIDE" ("LOL")
We have been to WDW many times, so I know how to PLAN... and some more PLANNING.
All the kids will have some family members traveling with them and they are organizing their travel and stay for themselves.
We are not more than 13 kids and 2 conductors (Me and DD) so not very many...

I am helping some of the parents with rooms and I think many of us will be staying at POP (Maybe some at AOA)
DD and I will come down several days before the rest of the kids and we would stay after the choir has been together also

So... I know the days we are having the Workshop and the day we are performing could NOT be planned to the detail, BUT...
I had a parents meeting the other night and I told them;

1. The day BEFORE the Workshop I will have all the kids together for a good talk and some rehearsal time.
I want to do this, because I know my kids will be very exited (some of them have never been to USA or WDW) and I need them to FOCUS.

2. I told the parents that after the kids and I have spent some hours together, they would need a "surprise" (Maybe an Ice Cream etc) AND that we would eat at-least ONE sit down MEAL TOGETHER...

3. The day of the workshop is hard to plan (The last time I had a Choir trip down to WDW was in 2009) but I told the parents that they get a time we are going to meet up. I will make that time at-least 45 min before the time we would HAVE to meet.
Since we are from Norway and all the kids don`t speak so good English I have asked for DD and me to join them at the Work Shop
(We usually sing with the kids so it looks that it would be ok)

I have told the parents that they will have to meet us AFTER the Work Shop and we would have LUNCH or A MEAL TOGHETHER.
And again a small surprise for the kids.

4. Same goes for the day after when we will have our performance.
It is important to me that the kids/youth will have a GREAT TIME, but they have to concentrate and BEHAVE
I do have a GREAT group of kids so I am sure they will do their very best.

5. I have also told the parents that I recommend we have AT LEAST ONE DAY together after the first 3 days, maybe 2 days together.
Just to have FUN, and we can meet for LUNCH or DINNER

We are doing MATCHING T- SHIRTS (Maybe order them from Ebay... or better we can MAKE THEM)

I am telling the parents that PLANNING is A MUST... And I will keep telling them this.
We are going to have several meetings with the parents before the trip.

I am a bit concerned about booking FP... Will have to check that out.

We would also have several meetings with just the kids, dd and I to prepare for our trip.

Phu... this was long.. sorry.. Just had to share

PS; How many days was the band/choir/dance trip and what parks did you go to?

Best from Adèle Marie in Norway

 

[Riss]

@eleda72 It's great that you guys are going and I'm sure everyone is going to have a great time!

During our trips with the band, our band director would always say that we could meet up for a meal at Peco's Bill, since we were doing the parade in Magic Kingdom. He never made it mandatory, but if you wanted to eat together before the performance, and it was right near the door we had to go through for backstage anyway, then that was the place. He always made sure to do it for lunch before the performance, that way in case anyone wasn't entirely sure where they were going, they were going to be right there, plus he would be there, too.

And matching shirts are such a great thing! The very first time I went as part of the band we didn't get any but ever since my second trip and on, they have always gotten matching shirts in different colors and have allowed parents or others who were going on the trip purchase the shirts so they have them as well. Even though they always bought ours, the high school band has at least 100 people in it, during my years there we probably had around 120 kids, making them does seem like it could be fun, too. But the shirts are such a great thing. For my school at least everyone wore them the parade day, parents and students alike, and once even a high schooler asked my dad if he could help him get some Advil since he needed to have an adult at least 18 years old to obtain some. We had no idea who the student was, but since we were wearing the same matching shirts, he felt comfortable enough to approach my dad.

 

[mdsouth]

Hello!
Very happy that I found this thread... as I am going to WDW with my Children/Youth Choir Late June/July 2019
Well.. I am the director, Conductor AND I am also their "TOUR GUIDE" ("LOL")
We have been to WDW many times, so I know how to PLAN... and some more PLANNING.
All the kids will have some family members traveling with them and they are organizing their travel and stay for themselves.
We are not more than 13 kids and 2 conductors (Me and DD) so not very many...

I am helping some of the parents with rooms and I think many of us will be staying at POP (Maybe some at AOA)
DD and I will come down several days before the rest of the kids and we would stay after the choir has been together also

Best from Adèle Marie in Norway

Welcome Adèle Marie!

It will be great talking through plans together with a director, conductor as well as those of us who have been on previous trips or going on one for the first time.

What ages are your choir members?

As the tour guide, it would be a great idea for you to just meet with the parents and try to share the resort options with them.

As a teacher and parent, I think it might help you if you talk to the kids about how free time in the parks will be handled, number in group, chaperone, check in times and places, etc).


I think the idea to meet up for lunch before the performance time makes sense.

 

[gharter]

We did not chaperone our daughters trip to WDW, but have chaperoned 2 High School Orchestra cruises.
As long as you go into it with the attitude that you will have fun, all is good.
My daughter was at WDW 3 days. She has been with us to WDW multiple times and knows how it works. The first day, the other kids wouldn't listen to her and just tried to go where they wanted and got frustrated. The next 2 days, they let her plan the day, FPs, etc and enjoyed the days much more and got to do everything they wanted.
The hard part is getting the kids to understand that to do what they want to do in the parks really takes a lot of planning and going in without planning rarely works well.

 

[Minnie368]

Just a tip from our experience when our cross country team went down to run the high school event at ESPN WWOS...
We had all of our runners and some family members under the same MDE account and one of our moms made FP+ for everyone. It was app 45 people. She had the ticket info and figured why not- if they use them great and if not that’s fine too, but they’d be there if they wanted to. Well some of the kids went to the kiosks with their magic bands to move FP around or select additional ones and ended up cancelling the FP of at least half the people in our group- including our group FP for Fantasmic. I think most large groups probably don’t schedule FP+ for everyone in this way but if you plan to I would be sure to educate the kids on how they work.